What happened on this day, October 6 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1919
Andre Pilette, born in Paris on this day but of Belgian nationality, had a 14-race Formula One career that spanned the same number of seasons. By the time of his last outing in 1964, at the 1964 British Grand Prix, the 45-year-old Pilette caused Jim Clark to crash.
1944
Born on this day in Sao Paulo, Carlos Pace made his mark in Britain in Formula Three and Formula Two, which led to a drive with Frank Williams‘ Formula One team in 1972. Pace performed well against team leader Henri Pescarolo but left Williams at the end of the year to join Surtees. Despite excellent performances, poor reliability hampered his progress, and he quit in mid-1974. He was soon snapped up by Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham team, and in 1975 he took a fine victory in the 1975 Brazilian Grand Prix. Second place in the 1977 Argentinian Grand Prix boded well, but tragically, he was killed in a light aircraft accident later that year.
1952
Manfred Winkelhock, born on this day in Germany, was backed by BMW as he rose racing’s ladder. He spent most of his Formula One career with ATS and RAM, rarely enjoying the chance to shine. His reflexes and bravery were well showcased at the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix, where he qualified fifth. Winkelhock also achieved some success in sports car racing with Porsche. However, he was killed in an accident at Mosport Park in 1985.
1963
Graham Hill took victory for BRM in the 1963 US Grand Prix, capitalising on the retirement of long-time leader and Ferrari driver John Surtees. Lotus driver Jim Clark, already confirmed as the 1963 Drivers’ Championship winner, came third after being left on the grid for a lap at the start due to battery problems. Hill’s average speed of 109.91 mph was a record for Watkins Glen. Hill’s teammate Richie Ginther finished second.
1968
Five years after Graham Hill’s victory at the same race, Jackie Stewart won the 1968 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in a Matra, moving within three points of Hill, who came second in a Lotus-Ford, with one race remaining. In the end, Hill won the final race to secure his second title. Stewart recalled, “For the first time in my F1 career, I sensed I was able to dictate the pace of the race. When I went slower, the entire field went slower; when I went faster, the entire field went faster.” John Surtees finished in third for Honda.
This was the debut race of the future world champion Mario Andretti and his first Formula One pole position.
1973
Jackie Stewart‘s Tyrrell team-mate and close friend Francois Cevert was killed during practice for the 1973 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen when his car hit a barrier and careered across the track into another one, which uprooted and almost cut him in two. “I arrived and stared in disbelief,” Stewart wrote in his autobiography. “There was my team-mate, my protégé, my friend, my younger brother. He was dead.” Stewart and the Tyrrell team withdrew from the race, which would have been Stewart’s last anyway. When he told his wife, Helen, she broke down in tears and said, “Now we can grow old together.” The supremely talented Cevert, 29, had won his only Grand Prix on the same circuit two years earlier and was widely regarded as a future world champion.
1974
McLaren driver Emerson Fittipaldi secured his second Drivers’ title on the 45th of the 59-lap 1974 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen when his remaining challenger, Jody Scheckter, retired his Tyrrell with an overheating engine. It was also a day of sadness as what appeared to be a minor crash caused Surtees driver Helmuth Koinigg’s death. Long-standing issues with the barriers were to blame, as Koinigg hit them at relatively slow speed but was decapitated when his car slid under them.
It was also the last Grand Prix for former champion and McLaren driver Denny Hulme, who announced his retirement after the race. Brabham teammates Carlos Reutemann and Carlos Pace finished in first and second, respectively, while the Hesketh of James Hunt completed the podium in third. It was also Carlos Pace’ birthday.
1985
Williams driver Nigel Mansell won the 1985 European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, calling it “the best day of my life.” Alain Prost, who had been hindered in his McLaren at the start, fought back from 14th to finish fourth, securing the two points he needed to win the 1985 Drivers’ Championship, his first title. Ayrton Senna, who started from pole position, finished in second place driving a Lotus-Renault, while Keke Rosberg, Nigel Mansell’s teammate, secured third place.
John Watson‘s entry marked the last time to date a Formula One driver raced with number 1 without having been World Champion the previous season.
2013
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel dominated the 2013 Korean Grand Prix, leading from start to finish and securing his fourth consecutive victory of the season, further extending his lead in the championship. The race featured several incidents, including a dramatic tyre delamination on the McLaren of Sergio Perez, the safety car’s deployment, and an unusual on-track appearance of a fire marshal’s truck due to an engine fire on Mark Webber‘s car after colliding with the Force India of Adrian Sutil. Kimi Raikkonen made a solid move to finish second, overtaking Romain Grosjean, who ended in third, completing the podium for a double Lotus F1 finish behind Vettel.
F1 Driver Birthdays 6 October
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 6 October 1918 | Max de Terra |
| 6 October 1918 | Andre Pilette |
| 6 October 1941 | John Nicholson |
| 6 October 1944 | Carlos Pace |
| 6 October 1951 | Manfred Winkelhock |
F1 Driver Deaths 6 October
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 6 October 1973 | Francois Cevert |
| 6 October 1974 | Helmuth Koinigg |
F1 Champion 6 October
| Date | Team/Driver |
|---|---|
| 6 October 1985 | Alain Prost |
| 6 October 1974 | Emerson Fittipaldi |
| 6 October 1974 | McLaren |
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